Figure 1From: The constancy of gene conservation across divergent bacterial ordersRelationship between gene ROLs for different bacterial clades. A) γ-β-proteobacteria versus α-proteobacteria. Each point indicates the estimated ROL for that gene (orthologue set) in γ-β-proteobacteria as opposed to α-proteobacteria. Essential genes are shown as inverted triangles; nonessential genes as grey circles. There is a highly significant relationship between individual ROL in the two clades (r = 0.820, p < 0.0001). This remains true even when essential genes are removed from consideration (r = 0.734, p < 0.0001). The lines indicate the cut-off ROL values used in Table 1. B) γ-β-proteobacteria versus Bacilli and Molllicutes. Each point indicates the estimated ROL for that set of orthologues in γ-β-proteobacteria as opposed to Bacilli and Molllicutes. Essential genes in E. coli are shown as inverted triangles; nonessential genes as grey circles. There is a highly significant relationship between ROLs for individual orthologues in the two clades (r = 0.700, p < 0.0001). This remains true even when orthologues that are essential in E. coli are removed from consideration (r = 0.576, p < 0.0001). The lines indicate the cut-off ROL values used in Table 1.Back to article page